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Hello once again everyone, as the title above suggests there has been a local tournament announced at my FLGS that is coming up in a few weeks and I hope by that time I will be in a position to use the Farsight Enclave list for the first time. The idea behind this list is to maximize "bodies" if you will to try and counter the low model count while not effecting my firepower to much in the process. Now please understand that I am still a bit of a novice when it comes to Tau and this is my first attempt at putting a list together at this point value so please any comments, thoughts and all help is more then encouraged, thanks guys!

BATTLESUIT SPEARHEAD

HQ:

-Commander
*w/ x2 Missile Pods, Target Lock

ELITE:

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker, Earth Caste Pilot Array

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker

TROOPS:

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Fusion Blasters, x1 Flamer

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Fusion Blasters, x1 Flamer

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x1 Gun Drone Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x1 Gun Drone Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each, x2 Shield Drones Total

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each, x2 Shield Drones Total

TOTAL ARMY: 1398 POINTS

Tactics:

-Commander attaches himself to a team of "Deathrain" (or missile pod) suits and sits back and provides fire support.

-x2 Riptides with the Ion Accelerator along with a TL Fusion Blaster with Skyfire and Interceptor whose job is my anti air and to handle any heavy armor that I may be facing, gave one of the suits the Earth Cast Pilot Array because why would you not take it?

-For my Troops I went with multiple Crisis Suit Variants to give me an array of flexible options. The x2 Fusion Blaster & Flamer teams will focus on Armor or MC if they have any or infantry camping on objectives or behind the Aegis Defence Line. They will be arriving from deepstrike with the plan of making up their points when they come in or even being a distraction for the rest of my army.

-The x2 Suit Teams with Burst Cannons will focus on anti-infantry detail pumping out a ridiculous 30 S5 AP5 shots a turn as at this point level I expect a lot of cheap horde type units to come into play quite often.

-The x2 Crisis Teams with Missile Pods play a supporting role and help the other two teams in anyway they can. Also all have some shield drones in the unit to keep my missile suits alive as they will be sitting back out of range making it pointless if I gave them Gun Drones. That and because I could only afford x2 Shield Drones per Missile Suit unit I figured keeping them alive was my top priority.

It's not a bad list, but you'll probably need marker light support to make your IA-tides effective. You'll want them to be as they are really the only way you can effectively remove not only AV14 off the table, but MEQs as well.

Your missile pod crisis teams can probably do without shield drones as you can just JSJ them after shooting to avoid return fire. Their 36in range should allow them to hit most targets, although far off targets are the job of everyone else.

Your single crisis suit FB team is a suicide guy, and that's fine, but shooting at BS3 is pretty crappy. You also have them split up, meaning you have to make two separate rolls for them to come in. I guess that's not bad when you need them to come in, you effectively get two tries to do so, but they also don't have a lot of dakka on them either. So they could come in and miss.

I'd suggest adding marker lights in some way to help with your riptides. They need 4-5 marker lights to be effective with the IA profile. You could do this by making a marker drone squad and giving your commander a drone controller. Besides, it looks like you didn't really know what to do with him anyway, so why not make him a Support'O?

It's not a bad list, but you'll probably need marker light support to make your IA-tides effective. You'll want them to be as they are really the only way you can effectively remove not only AV14 off the table, but MEQs as well.

-This is really the only reason I am taking the x2 Suicide Suits to add more to deal with Armor 14. I have thought of however creating a x4 Marker Drone squad with the Commander who has target lock and drone controller, or even putting him in a unit with missile suits that have marker drones.

Your missile pod crisis teams can probably do without shield drones as you can just JSJ them after shooting to avoid return fire. Their 36in range should allow them to hit most targets, although far off targets are the job of everyone else.

-Heard this before, was just wanting to keep them alive as even though they have 36in range my opponent will surely have weapons with that range as well, was more of an insurance policy against their long range, but I am considering marker drones to go with the missile suits.

Your single crisis suit FB team is a suicide guy, and that's fine, but shooting at BS3 is pretty crappy. You also have them split up, meaning you have to make two separate rolls for them to come in. I guess that's not bad when you need them to come in, you effectively get two tries to do so, but they also don't have a lot of dakka on them either. So they could come in and miss.

-Definitely a risk but so far since the local meta is primarily infantry heavy I have had them come in and flamethrower guys off objectives with pretty decent success. Also if my opponent is shooting at these guys he is not targeting my other suit squadrons, but mainly the idea is for them to make up their points when they come in, and as you mentioned marker lights would be a big help with that.

I'd suggest adding marker lights in some way to help with your riptides. They need 4-5 marker lights to be effective with the IA profile. You could do this by making a marker drone squad and giving your commander a drone controller. Besides, it looks like you didn't really know what to do with him anyway, so why not make him a Support'O?

You are correct, I do have an idea of taking a squad of x4 Markerlight Drones and sticking my commander in them with drone controller or adding marker drones to a team of Missile Suits, however I have a few other questions as well for you and everyone else:

-Should I keep the Riptides built as they are? Or should I give the one with the Earth Caste Pilot Array a Heavy Burst Cannon and Smart Missile System?

-The suicide suits, think they are worth it? So far they have performed pretty well coming in and flaming people off objectives more so then sniping heavy armor or should I just drop them?

-I have thought about dropping the drones on all my suits but would that make them even more vulnerable then they already are now? Understand dropping them off the Missile Suits but the Burst Cannon Suits might need the extra firepower, thoughts?

Get your comm a drone controller and 2 marker drones and instead of deathrain xv8s maybe get HYMP broadsides

 gmaleron wrote:


-Should I keep the Riptides built as they are? Or should I give the one with the Earth Caste Pilot Array a Heavy Burst Cannon and Smart Missile System?

-The suicide suits, think they are worth it? So far they have performed pretty well coming in and flaming people off objectives more so then sniping heavy armor or should I just drop them?

-I have thought about dropping the drones on all my suits but would that make them even more vulnerable then they already are now? Understand dropping them off the Missile Suits but the Burst Cannon Suits might need the extra firepower, thoughts?

To answer your first question, i have found that it comes down almost to personal preference. If you are going up against heavy infantry, IA with proper marker light support will be devastating to infantry blobs. Likewise, 12 HBC with marker light support can ruin anyone's day, including tanks if you get lucky 6s. I sort of lean towards the HBC, but you should play test each profile and see what helps you the most in your meta.

Suicide suits are always worth it so long as they fulfill a role and can do it reasonably well. You will most likely come against a unit you cant reach, either by cover or by not being able to get close enough to knock them off an objective. Deepstriking a unit that can neutralize it is what makes Tau strong. What you might want to do is, again, see what works for your meta. Is one suit enough to remove people / take out armor that needs to die? I was also wondering why you had a flamer and a FB. I get it now. haha.

What did you plan to replace the drones with point wise? In general, you don't want crisis teams larger than 2 suits unless you plan to suicide them in to something and need the extra body for more dakka. The reason for that is JSJ safety. You can't rely on always being able to have decent JSJ rolls, and with so many models, yo will more than likely have a few unlucky souls standing out in the open. It also gives the opponent the option to focus fire the models that are in the open. If you lose 25% of a unit (drones count) you have to roll LD and suits only have a LD of 8.

That's why it's not always a great idea to take shielded missile drones on a riptide. If you lose one drone you have to roll LD. >_<

Thanks for the advice and tips guys, I tweaked my list to try and get in some marker lights as well as keeping an army on the field as much as possible when it comes to my army. This is a list that I am planning on trying out tomorrow at my FLGS, let me know what yall think and thanks again for all the help!

BATTLESUIT SPEARHEAD

HQ:

-Commander
*w/ x2 Missile Pods, Target Lock, Drone Controller, x2 Marker Drones

ELITE:

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker, Earth Caste Pilot Array

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker

TROOPS:

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Twin Linked Fusion Blaster, x1 Flamer

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Twin Linked Fusion Blaster, x1 Flamer

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x1 Gun Drone Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x1 Gun Drone Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team (*Commander Goes Here*)
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each, x1 Marker Drone Each

TOTAL ARMY: 1398 POINTS

Tactics:

-Commander attaches himself to a team of "Deathrain" (or missile pod) suits and sits back and provides fire support while using his Drone Controller to give the x5 total Marker Drones in the squad BS5 and provide support for my army.

-x2 Riptides with the Ion Accelerator along with a TL Fusion Blaster with Skyfire and Interceptor whose job is my anti air and to handle any heavy armor that I may be facing, gave one of the suits the Earth Cast Pilot Array because why would you not take it?

-For my Troops I went with multiple Crisis Suit Variants to give me an array of flexible options. The x2 Fusion Blaster & Flamer teams will focus on Armor or MC if they have any or infantry camping on objectives or behind the Aegis Defence Line. They will be arriving from deepstrike with the plan of making up their points when they come in or even being a distraction for the rest of my army.

-The x2 Suit Teams with Burst Cannons will focus on anti-infantry detail pumping out a ridiculous 30 S5 AP5 shots a turn as at this point level I expect a lot of cheap horde type units to come into play quite often.

-The x2 Crisis Teams with Missile Pods play a supporting role and help the other two teams in anyway they can. Best defense with these guys will be to sit back out of range and hug cover as much as possible.

 gmaleron wrote:
Thanks for the advice and tips guys, I tweaked my list to try and get in some marker lights as well as keeping an army on the field as much as possible when it comes to my army. This is a list that I am planning on trying out tomorrow at my FLGS, let me know what yall think and thanks again for all the help!

BATTLESUIT SPEARHEAD

HQ:

-Commander
*w/ x2 Missile Pods, Target Lock, Drone Controller, x2 Marker Drones

ELITE:

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker, Earth Caste Pilot Array

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker

TROOPS:

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Twin Linked Fusion Blaster, x1 Flamer

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Twin Linked Fusion Blaster, x1 Flamer

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x1 Gun Drone Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x1 Gun Drone Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team (*Commander Goes Here*)
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each, x1 Marker Drone Each

TOTAL ARMY: 1398 POINTS

Tactics:

-Commander attaches himself to a team of "Deathrain" (or missile pod) suits and sits back and provides fire support while using his Drone Controller to give the x5 total Marker Drones in the squad BS5 and provide support for my army.

-x2 Riptides with the Ion Accelerator along with a TL Fusion Blaster with Skyfire and Interceptor whose job is my anti air and to handle any heavy armor that I may be facing, gave one of the suits the Earth Cast Pilot Array because why would you not take it?

-For my Troops I went with multiple Crisis Suit Variants to give me an array of flexible options. The x2 Fusion Blaster & Flamer teams will focus on Armor or MC if they have any or infantry camping on objectives or behind the Aegis Defence Line. They will be arriving from deepstrike with the plan of making up their points when they come in or even being a distraction for the rest of my army.

-The x2 Suit Teams with Burst Cannons will focus on anti-infantry detail pumping out a ridiculous 30 S5 AP5 shots a turn as at this point level I expect a lot of cheap horde type units to come into play quite often.

-The x2 Crisis Teams with Missile Pods play a supporting role and help the other two teams in anyway they can. Best defense with these guys will be to sit back out of range and hug cover as much as possible.

I'm pretty sure the target lock allows the commander to shoot at another target, not the whole squad. In this case, i believe your marker drones will be shooting at the same target as your crisis suits, which would be kind of weird. I could have that wrong though. You can do a marker drone squad on its on too, but it will need at least 4 models and they cost 14pt instead of 12pt. You should have enough points to do a marker drone squad if you take the drones off the MP suits and drop the VT off one of the riptides. Then you can add your commander to that squad.

Why would you not take it indeed! You may want to consider putting the non ECPA tide with a HBC as you may not have enough marker lights to go around. You don't want your IA pie scattering and with BS3 it probably will scatter. But again, play test and see how you like it. How many fliers do you see in your meta? You may not need both suits to have VT if there's not a lot of fliers.

Suit roles seem fine, but again, you'll have to see how effective the single model suits fare with what you plan to do with them. You might need a little more dakka on the DS ones.

Play test and see how you like it. Based off what you said, it hasn't let you down yet. This list seems to be tailored towards a specific meta, so you know what works and what doesn't.

I'm pretty sure the target lock allows the commander to shoot at another target, not the whole squad. In this case, i believe your marker drones will be shooting at the same target as your crisis suits, which would be kind of weird. I could have that wrong though. You can do a marker drone squad on its on too, but it will need at least 4 models and they cost 14pt instead of 12pt. You should have enough points to do a marker drone squad if you take the drones off the MP suits and drop the VT off one of the riptides. Then you can add your commander to that squad.

-You are correct in regards to the Marker Light Drones that are attatched to the suits, have fixed the list accodringly in regards to that, dont know what I thought that it would work like that .

Why would you not take it indeed! You may want to consider putting the non ECPA tide with a HBC as you may not have enough marker lights to go around. You don't want your IA pie scattering and with BS3 it probably will scatter. But again, play test and see how you like it. How many fliers do you see in your meta? You may not need both suits to have VT if there's not a lot of fliers.

-The local meta is a decent mix of armies with some having no fliers to some having as many as three of them, basically am coving all my bases but I am interested in taking maybe one with the Heavy Burst Cannon, but I need the Ion Accelerator for Imperial Guard players I may face.

Suit roles seem fine, but again, you'll have to see how effective the single model suits fare with what you plan to do with them. You might need a little more dakka on the DS ones.

-I am going to treat these guys as either Objective takers or Anti-HeavArmor hunters, if none of those targets are yet presentable I will utilize them as distractions or even deepstrike them into positions where they will have cover before moving them out to engage. If these guys turn into be a hassle and not worth it then I will drop them to beef up my other squads or add something else.

With all that in mind here is my third attempt at revising this list, let me know what you guys think and thanks again for helping a new Tau player out

BATTLESUIT SPEARHEAD

HQ:

-Commander
*w/ x2 Missile Pods, Target Lock, Drone Controller

ELITE:

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker, Earth Caste Pilot Array

-Riptide
*w/ Ion Accelerator, TL Fusion Blaster, Riptide Shield Generator, Early Warning Override, Velocity Tracker

TROOPS:

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Twin Linked Fusion Blaster, x1 Flamer

-(x1) Crisis Suit Team *Deep Strike*
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Twin Linked Fusion Blaster, x1 Flamer

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x2 Gun Drones

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x1 Drone Controller, x2 Burst Cannons Each, x2 Gun Drones

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each

-(x3) Crisis Suit Team
*w/ Bonding Knife, x2 Missile Pods Each

FAST ATTACK:

-x6 Marker Drones (*Commander Goes Here*)

TOTAL ARMY: 1400 POINTS

Tactics:

-Commander attaches himself to the squadron of Marker Drones and provides support for the rest of my army targetting their nasty units one at a time. With Target Lock he will be able to fire at another unit, making him a support Commander of sorts.

-x2 Riptides with the Ion Accelerator along with a TL Fusion Blaster with Skyfire and Interceptor whose job is my anti air and to handle any heavy armor that I may be facing, gave one of the suits the Earth Cast Pilot Array because why would you not take it?

-For my Troops I went with multiple Crisis Suit Variants to give me an array of flexible options. The x2 Fusion Blaster & Flamer teams will focus on Armor or MC if they have any or infantry camping on objectives or behind the Aegis Defence Line. They will be arriving from deepstrike with the plan of making up their points when they come in or even being a distraction for the rest of my army.

-The x2 Suit Teams with Burst Cannons will focus on anti-infantry detail pumping out a ridiculous x28 S5 AP5 shots a turn as at this point level I expect a lot of cheap horde type units to come into play quite often.

-The x2 Crisis Teams with Missile Pods play a supporting role and help the other two teams in anyway they can. Best defense with these guys will be to sit back out of range and hug cover as much as possible while providing supporting fire down the field.